San Francisco’s Sister City Haifa, Israel has been overwhelmed with a series of wild and urban fires that has destroyed hundreds of buildings, caused the evacuation of tens of thousands and left over 1600 homeless.

Human Impact

Thousands of residents have been displaced and are unable to return to their homes as crews fight the fires in Haifa and the surrounding region.

“On behalf of the residents of San Francisco, my thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by the fires that have struck our Sister City Haifa, Israel. San Francisco stands ready to support and assist its efforts to recover and rebuild.

The best way to help those affected is to make a monetary donation to Jewish National Fund which is raising funds to support the work of agencies that are on the front line of this event.

My deep appreciation to the brave first responders who are working around the clock to save people’s lives and to the organizations that are providing help to residents so they can recover as quickly as possible.

This is another stark reminder that we must be prepared for any disaster or emergency to ensure our families and loved ones are safe and our cities remain resilient. We know disasters, whether it is a fire, earthquake, tsunami, or something human made, can happen at any time with little or no warning. That is why it is so important to take steps now so you are ready for any disaster or emergency.”

On November 22nd, 2016 a series of wildfires broke out in the city of Haifa and the surrounding region.

Over 700 homes have been destroyed in Haifa, and new fires are being reported as other continue to affect residents.

Over 1,500 fires have been reported in the region with their cause still unknown.

The City & County of San Francisco has pledged its support for those in need, you can help support the victims of this wildfire by donating to the service providers supported by the Jewish National Fund.